Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Numbers » Chapter 27 » Verse 15-23

Numbers 27:15-23 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

15 And Moses H4872 spake H1696 unto the LORD, H3068 saying, H559

16 Let the LORD, H3068 the God H430 of the spirits H7307 of all flesh, H1320 set H6485 a man H376 over the congregation, H5712

17 Which may go out H3318 before H6440 them, and which may go in H935 before H6440 them, and which may lead them out, H3318 and which may bring them in; H935 that the congregation H5712 of the LORD H3068 be not as sheep H6629 which have no shepherd. H7462

18 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Take H3947 thee Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 a man H376 in whom is the spirit, H7307 and lay H5564 thine hand H3027 upon him;

19 And set H5975 him before H6440 Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and before H6440 all the congregation; H5712 and give him a charge H6680 in their sight. H5869

20 And thou shalt put H5414 some of thine honour H1935 upon him, that all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 may be obedient. H8085

21 And he shall stand H5975 before H6440 Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 who shall ask H7592 counsel for him after the judgment H4941 of Urim H224 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 at his word H6310 shall they go out, H3318 and at his word H6310 they shall come in, H935 both he, and all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 with him, even all the congregation. H5712

22 And Moses H4872 did H6213 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 him: and he took H3947 Joshua, H3091 and set H5975 him before H6440 Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and before H6440 all the congregation: H5712

23 And he laid H5564 his hands H3027 upon him, and gave him a charge, H6680 as the LORD H3068 commanded H1696 by the hand H3027 of Moses. H4872

Commentary on Numbers 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 27

Nu 27:1-11. The Daughters of Zelophehad Ask for an Inheritance.

3. Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not … in the company of … Korah—This declaration might be necessary because his death might have occurred about the time of that rebellion; and especially because, as the children of these conspirators were involved along with their fathers in the awful punishment, their plea appeared the more proper and forcible that their father did not die for any cause that doomed his family to lose their lives or their inheritance.

died in his own sin—that is, by the common law of mortality to which men, through sin, are subject.

4. Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father—Those young women perceived that the males only in families had been registered in the census. Because there were none in their household, their family was omitted. So they made known their grievance to Moses, and the authorities conjoined with him in administering justice. The case was important; and as the peculiarity of daughters being the sole members of a family would be no infrequent or uncommon occurrence, the law of inheritance, under divine authority, was extended not only to meet all similar cases, but other cases also—such as when there were no children left by the proprietor, and no brothers to succeed him. A distribution of the promised land was about to be made; and it is interesting to know the legal provision made in these comparatively rare cases for preserving a patrimony from being alienated to another tribe. (See on Nu 36:5).

Nu 27:12-17. Moses Being Told of His Approaching Death, Asks for a Successor.

12. The Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land—Although the Israelites were now on the confines of the promised land, Moses was not privileged to cross the Jordan, but died on one of the Moabitic range of mountains, to which the general name of Abarim was given (Nu 33:47). The privation of this great honor was owing to the unhappy conduct he had manifested in the striking of the rock at Meribah [Nu 20:12]; and while the pious leader submitted with meek acquiescence to the divine decree, he evinced the spirit of genuine patriotism in his fervent prayers for the appointment of a worthy and competent successor [Nu 27:15-17].

16. God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation—The request was most suitably made to God in this character, as the Author of all the intellectual gifts and moral graces with which men are endowed, and who can raise up qualified persons for the most arduous duties and the most difficult situations.

Nu 27:18-23. Joshua Appointed to Succeed Him.

18. Take thee Joshua … a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him—A strong testimony is here borne to the personality of the divine Spirit—the imposition of hands was an ancient ceremony. (See Ge 48:14; Le 1:4; 1Ti 4:14).

20, 21. Thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him—In the whole history of Israel there arose no prophet or ruler in all respects like unto Moses till the Messiah appeared, whose glory eclipsed all. But Joshua was honored and qualified in an eminent degree, through the special service of the high priest, who asked counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord.